I feel alone” Phenomenological study of elderly Cuban women who experienced the migration of first-order relatives

Introduction. The increase of migratory processes is part of the reality in the Cuban context. It has an impact on the family and, especially, on elderly women who remain at home. The study of this phenomenon is at the crossroad of sociological theories of aging, migration and phenomenology, which allow us to make an analysis from the experience of research subjects, elderly women whose close relatives migrated. Objective. To examine experiences of a group of Cuban elderly women and the meaning they attribute to migratory process of their close relatives. Methods. A phenomenological study was carried out. Qualitative data was collected by semi-structured interviewing women over 60 whose close relatives had migrated. Additionally, experts were interviewed. Results. Changes were identified at individual, family and social levels after the family member of the older adult migrated. As a result women enrolled in the study attribute certain meanings to the migratory processes, which are associated with their personal experiences and move away from theoretical conventions. Conclusion. Migratory processes bring changes in life dynamics of elderly women. They have an impact on their quality of life, since there is an increased load of domestic and instrumental roles as a result of the migration of their close relatives.